As government extends its powers more deeply into everyday life, it becomes less effective at everything. That annoyance becomes dangerous when the state isn’t entirely capable of its most important job: providing basic security and stability. Consider the Department of Homeland Security, which isn’t fully funded and lacks the leadership and credibility to effectively make the case for more money.
With conflict in the Middle East increasing the risk for terrorism in the homeland, it’d be nice if DHS was fully functional. But the department has faced a gap in funding since Feb. 14, which has left critical agencies short staffed. DHS Secretary Kristi L. Noem tried to persuade lawmakers to end the partial government shutdown this week, and it didn’t go well.
Noem might have made the case for why DHS is critical at this juncture. But her interactions with House members on Wednesday and senators on Tuesday were more notable for squabbles and personal controversies than any substantive case for why she can be trusted to help keep the country safe.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) called for Noem’s resignation, accusing her of blocking the Trump-appointed inspector general from carrying out basic inquiries. The day before, the inspector general sent a letter to lawmakers outlining at least 10 instances where DHS allegedly obstructed his office’s access to records and information linked to national security matters. DHS claims the inspector general hasn’t given the right information to access relevant databases, but Monday’s letter disputed that in strong terms.
Tillis also called out Noem for not answering questions he previously submitted about Operation Charlotte’s Web, an immigration surge in his state last fall. Enforcing the country’s immigration laws is a basic function of government, but Americans have become distrustful of DHS, and a lack of transparency has made the situation worse.
So does wastefulness. Lawmakers in the House and Senate grilled Noem for spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars on an ad campaign starring herself. She has no good explanation.
It’s embarrassing that Congress can’t agree on common sense reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to end the partial government shutdown. It might be more embarrassing that the department’s boss doesn’t make much of an effort to act like a responsible steward of that funding.
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